Oil and gas news briefs August 2, 2012

• U.S. Gulf Coast LNG project signs up Japanese utilities
• Exxon starts drilling to support Papua New Guinea LNG plant
• Eni announces an additional 10 tcf offshore Mozambique
• Tanzania may ask oil companies to join forces on LNG development
• East Africa gas discoveries could threaten Australian development
• Shell looks to broaden its natural gas investment in China
• Shale drillers move out of northeast Pennsylvania, looking for wet gas
• Companies write down value of shale gas assets
• Companies blame falling gas liquids prices for lower profits
• Gas drilling slows down in northeast British Columbia
• Legal fight brewing over local drilling bans in New York
• Fracking debate looks at industry-funded research
• B.C. steps up the battle over Alberta oil pipelines
• TransCanada selected to build $660 million Alberta oilsands pipeline